'Bama vs Arkansas Report Card

OFFENSE: How much credit for this blowout goes to Alabama's offense? Well, it's tough to complain about a unit capable of scoring three touchdowns on a total of 20 plays in the first half. The return of right guard Marlon Davis paid big dividends for an offensive line that mauled the Razorbacks most of the game. Counting his 87-yard touchdown sprint, Glen Coffee ran for 162 yards on his 10 carries, an amazing average of 16.2 yards per attempt. Overall, the Crimson Tide averaged 8 yards per play, a statistic that won't lose many games. Of course, it helps when the backs have so much space to operate in. As the offensive line goes, so goes this offense, but there appear to be more big-play weapons to hurt opposing defenses when the line takes care of its responsibilities. QB John Parker Wilson had some questionable throws, but he also fired a nice 26-yard strike on the game's opening drive and a beautiful, third-down, 25-yard scoring toss to Julio Jones.

DEFENSE: A barrage of big plays masked the fact Bobby Petrino's offense actually had some success, topping 300 yards by early in the fourth quarter. But quarterback Casey Dick's three interceptions — particularly the first two — put the team hopelessly behind. Alabama continually harassed Arkansas' quarterbacks, continued to do a good job against the run and won the battle up front, as evidenced by a goal-line stand to end the first half. This very well could have been a shutout, since each of the Hogs' touchdowns came on fourth down. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban was not pleased by Arkansas' ability to convert on third down or a nearly 10-minute edge in time of possession. Yet on this day, his gripes seemed like nitpicking with a big game against Georgia on the horizon.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The kicking game wasn't much of a factor in a lopsided contest. Leigh Tiffin probably enjoyed booting seven extra points through the uprights after his dramatic struggles at Arkansas in 2006. Punter P.J. Fitzgerald quietly had a solid outing, booting five kicks for a 45.2-yard average. Return specialist Javier Arenas didn't work the entire game, but was angry at himself for fumbling a second-half return he had to pounce on to avoid a turnover.

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